Overview

Overview

OVERVIEW

By bringing WWE to cable, closed-circuit television and pay-per-view, Vince McMahon revolutionized event programming for sports and entertainment decades ago and he continues to be a visionary today.

Once again, WWE has created a new way to engage fans with an extraordinary value proposition by strategically delivering WWE’s premium live content directly to fans in more than 180 countries with WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 direct-to-consumer network delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution.

Featuring all WWE live pay-per-view events, WWE Network is the fastest growing digital subscription service that features groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches and over 6,000 hours of video on demand.

The U.S. version of WWE Network is available on a direct-to-consumer basis in over 180 countries and territories, including the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Spain and the Nordics, among others.

The popularity of WWE Network's content and affordable subscription model has paved the way for WWE Network subscribers increasing 24% from the third quarter 2015 to a record 1.46 million average paid subscribers over the third quarter 2016. In the third quarter, WWE Network subscription revenue also increased 18% to $42.8 million from $36.4 million in the prior year quarter.

According to a 2016 Parks Associates study, WWE Network has the second highest “Net Promoter Score (NPS)” among major OTT video services in the U.S., only behind Netflix – WWE has the second highest rating for subscribers likely to recommend the service. An NPS that is positive (i.e. higher than zero) is felt to be good, and an NPS of +50 is excellent. WWE comes in around +30 and Netflix is at approximately +40.

WWE is on pace to add more than 300 hours of original content to the network’s featured programming in 2016, and more than 2,500 hours of archival content , which would result in an on-demand library of over 7,000 hours at year-end 2016 - over four times the amount of content hours (1500) when the network started in 2014.

OUR STRATEGY & EXECUTION

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Vince McMahon brought Camp WWE's "Mr. McMahon" to life for WWE Network.

WWE Network’s content, including the company’s premier event, WrestleMania, in addition to other pay-per-views, original series and specials, have continued to drive viewer engagement.

WWE is adding more than 300 hours of original content to the network’s featured programming in 2016, and more than 1,500 hours of archival content, which resulted in an on-demand library of 6,000 hours, which is four times the amount of content hours (1,500) the network launched with in 2014.

Paige uses a shock collar to make Dolph Ziggler's blind date as uncomfortable as possible in this sneak peek from SWERVED, on WWE Network.

This year, WWE Network launched Camp WWE in May to rave reviews. From WWE and Seth Green’s Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, this adult animated series centered on WWE Superstars and Legends when they were kids at their favorite summer camp owned by Vince McMahon. The series pushed the boundaries and showed fans a side of WWE they have never seen before.

WWE’s original series, SWERVED Season 2, premiered all nine 30-minute episodes on-demand on WWE Network on June 6, immediately following Monday Night Raw. This was the first time WWE Network did a binge release for a show on-demand. These two programs rank among the network’s original series to-date.

SWERVED, directed by Jeff Tremaine (Jackass, Bad Grandpa), is a half-hour series that combines the worlds of comedy and sports entertainment as WWE Superstars play hilarious pranks on the WWE Universe.

OUR RESULTS & HIGHLIGHTS

The cast of "Total Divas" celebrate Brie Bella's final WWE match at WWE WRestleMania 32, watched by more than 1.8 million on WWE Network.

WWE Network subscription revenue increased 18% to $42.8 million from $36.4 million in the prior year quarter based on a 24% year-over-year increase in average paid subscribers to 1.46 million.Networkrevenues, which include revenue generated by WWE Network and pay-per-view, increased 10% to $45.1 million.

WWE continued to increase the global subscriber base of WWE Network, as measured on a year-over-year basis, with launches over the trailing 12 months in five countries including Germany and Japan.

WWE Network had 1.44 million total paid subscribers at the end of the third quarter, which represented a 17% increase from September 30, 2015. WWE Network had 1.07 million U.S. paid subscribers and 373,000 international paid subscribers at quarter-end.

WWE Network content, including pay-per-views, original series, NXT Takeover, and specials have continued to drive viewer engagement. During the quarter, the Company introduced compelling new content for WWE Network, including NXT Takeover Brooklyn III, Holy Foley!, WWE Draft Center Live, and Cruiserweight Classic, a ten-week global tournament.

This year WWE has continued to develop exciting new content for WWE Network, including Camp WWE (May), Swerved Season 2 (June) and Holy Foley! (August)

WWE Network reached a record 1.82 million total subscribers following WrestleMania (April 4). During WrestleMania Week, WWE Network featured 19 hours of prime-time, premier programming, and subscribers watched nearly 22 million hours of content, averaging 12 hours per subscriber. This is a 39% increase from March 30, 2015, the day after WrestleMania last year.

The second season of Swerved was released in its entirety on WWE Network on June 6, coinciding with the Network’s new auto play feature, which allows subscribers to watch sequential series episodes automatically.

The popularity of WWE Network's content and affordable subscription model paved the way to the network reaching a record of 1.52 million average paid subscribers over the second quarter 2016, which represented a 25% increase from the second quarter 2015.

The Network also averaged 1.29 million paid subscribers over the first quarter 2016, which represented a 39% increase from the first quarter 2015, and reached 1.47 million total subscribers at quarter-end.

WWE’s original series,Swerved Season 2,premiered all nine half hour long episodes on-demand on WWE Network in June, the first time WWE Network did a binge release for a show on-demand.

Network Videos

Network Videos

WWE NETWORK MULTIMEDIA

Below are sample promotions and clips from WWE Network programming.

To see these programs in full, visit WWE Network using the demo login account listed below.

WWE SPECIAL EVENTS: All of WWE's pay-per-view events are included in WWE Network subscriptions, including our biggest events: WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble.

KICKOFF SHOWS: Before each WWE Network Special Event, a panel of WWE Legends and Hall of Famers preview the night's event. This Kickoff broadcast is often streamed on Facebook Live and YouTube as well.

EXCLUSIVE LIVE EVENTS: WWE Network brings exclusive coverage of special Live Events, including shows from NYC's Madison Square Garden and Tokyo, Japan.

RAW AND SMACKDOWN LIVE PRE-SHOW: WWE Raw and SmackDown Live get a 30-minute headstart Monday and Tuesday nights on WWE Network, as Scott Stanford leads our Pre-Show Panel, as the WWE Universe gets the first glimpse of the night's matches coming up LIVE on USA Network.

TALKING SMACK: WWE SmackDown Live doesn't end on USA Network. Talking Smack, hosted by Renee Young and SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan interview the night's big winners and review controversial moments with the WWE Universe's live Twitter ticker injecting their thoughts.

SWERVED: Swerved, directed by Jeff Tremaine, is a half-hour series that combines the worlds of comedy and sports entertainment as WWE Superstars play hilarious pranks on the WWE Universe. The success of the WWE Network thus far illustrates the power of the WWE brand, showcases WWE’s potential to drive long-term growth and provide evidence that we are effectively executing our multi-platform content strategy.

LEGENDS WITH JBL: Host John Bradshaw Layfield speaks to WWE Legends and Hall of Famers in an intimate hour-long interview.

UNFILTERED WITH RENEE YOUNG: WWE commentator Renee Young sits down with the hottest actors and actresses in Hollywood, as well as WWE Superstars making waves in movies and TV.

THE WWE LIST: WWE Superstars count down their lists of the best and worst in WWE history, along with celebrities from comedy, TV and movies.

WWE NXT / NXT TAKEOVER: WWE's developmental brand's weekly show featuring the most exciting up-and-coming Superstars is exclusively on WWE Network, including four two-hour NXT TakeOver special events each year.

WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CLASSIC: The best wrestlers under 205 lbs. compete in a single-elimination, 10-week tournament to crown the best cruiserweight talent in the world.

CAMP WWE: The network launched Camp WWE in May. From WWE and Seth Green’s Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the adult animated series centered on WWE Superstars and Legends when they were kids at a summer camp owned by Vince McMahon. The series pushed the boundaries and showed fans a side of WWE they’ve never seen.

HOLY FOLEY: When at home with his family of five, including wife Colette, sons Dewey, Mickey and Hughie, and daughter Noelle, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley simply sees himself as a stand-up comedian and Santa-loving dad. However, unbeknownst to The Hardcore Legend, Noelle has decided she wants to follow in her father’s footsteps in the WWE ring and his oldest son Dewey recently landed his dream job as a writer’s assistant on the WWE creative team.

WWE Network's newest original series, Holy Foley, catches all the real-life antics and laugh-out-loud moments that unfold in the Foley household as cameras follow two generations of Foleys trying to make it in life, and at WWE.

WWE RIDE ALONG: WWE Superstars travel hundreds of miles together each weekend, traveling between Live Events. WWE Network's cameras came along to chronicle their travels and discussions.

Network Demo

Network Demo

WWE NETWORK DEMO

For your consideration, WWE has included a WWE Network demonstration login and password with our digital entry for you to try out WWE Network on the WWE App or your XBOX, PlayStation, Apple TV or Roku, to sample WWE Network's video streaming capabilities and quality for yourself.

About WWE

About WWE

ABOUT WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience.

WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide in 25 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries.

The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.